QChennai: Vegetable Prices Shoot Up; Parties Spar Over ‘Mersal’

1. Centre Clears BharatNet for TN

The Centre has sanctioned the detailed project report (DPR) of ‘BharatNet’ – a scheme aimed at providing broadband connectivity to rural areas — for Tamil Nadu, which would be implemented by the State government. It has also earmarked Rs 1,230 crore for the project.

According to an official release from the State government, the Union Ministry of Telecommunications cleared the DPR of the project, which was prepared and submitted by the Tamil Nadu Cable TV Corporation last month, for providing internet services through optical fiber cable.

2. Parties Spar Over ‘Mersal’

Senior BJP leaders from the State on Friday stepped up their attack against the Vijay-starrer Mersal, which had a record opening on Deepavali day, for certain dialogues mouthed by the actor mocking the Goods and Services Tax regime. Opposition party leaders, however, came out strongly in defence of the film.

While the party’s State president Tamilisai Soundararajan had on Thursday called for deleting the scenes which have reference to the GST and the Digital India initiative of the BJP government, Union Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan on Friday backed her demand. “The film producer should remove the untruths regarding GST from the film,” he told journalists in Nagercoil.

3. Vegetable Prices Shoot Up

Supplies from other States have been inadequate, say traders in Koyambedu.(Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

Incessant rain and holidays in the neighbouring States have triggered a sudden spike in vegetable prices in the city. Beans and drumsticks were priced more than Rs 100 a kg on Friday.

Traders at the Koyambedu market, which is the wholesale hub for perishable goods, noted that continuous rain in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and the lack of harvest during the festive season had affected the arrivals by at least 50 %.

Drumsticks were pegged at Rs 170 per kg. The cost of locally grown vegetables such as brinjals also doubled to Rs 60 a kg in just a week due to severe shortage, hitting the household budget.

4. Pending Projects Leave City At Risk

The risk of flooding in the city seems on the rise as key line agencies have failed to address a number of civic issues reported ahead of the onset of the northeast monsoon. A number of complaints were reported by civic officials at the last monsoon preparedness meeting with line agencies on Friday.

“More than 80 civic issues caused by various line agencies have increased the risk of flooding this monsoon,” said an official, who participated in the meeting. In a bid to reduce flooding in such neighbourhoods, the Chennai Corporation has insisted on the need for temporary arrangements to bale out water from the localities this year.

5. Paddy Raised in Over 19.7 Lakh Acres This Year

Paddy, one of the major crops of the State, has been raised in over 19.7 lakh acres of land so far this year.

The coverage is expected to go up in the coming weeks, with the northeast monsoon likely to arrive shortly, says a senior official of the Agricultural Department. Also, ordinarily, the State receives a significant share of the monsoon’s rainfall in November. The target for coverage through paddy for the current year is about 44 lakh acres.

On the corresponding day last year, the coverage was about 19 lakh acres. But, due to the drought, a total of nearly 50 lakh acres was hit throughout the State.

6. Unions to Go to Court Over Porayar Tragedy

Various trade unions have planned to take the government and its officers to court.(Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

Various trade unions have planned to take the government and its officers to court over the death of the eight employees of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), who were crushed to death when the roof of a building at the Porayar depot collapsed on Friday.

A statement from the Federation of All Transport Unions asked whether the government cared about and took enough measures to ensure the resting rooms, canteens, toilets were maintained properly. “Those who were supposed to undertake these checks and take appropriate action have failed in their duty. We condemn this dereliction of duty on the part of the Labour Department officials and plan to file cases against them in the High court,” a statement signed by leaders of 10 transport unions said.

7. Stalin Plans Another ‘Namakku Naame’ Tour

Programme to be held in November and December, and will focus on irregularities by government.(Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

DMK working president MK Stalin on Friday announced a month-long State-wide tour programme similar to the Namakku Naame (By Us, For Us) road show he undertook just before the run-up to the 2016 Assembly polls.

“The programme will be held between the first week of November and the first week of December. We have already discussed the details of the programme with the district secretaries,” Mr Stalin told reporters after the party district secretaries meeting here on Friday.